This explorative study examined the relationship between parent’s self-efficacy and toddler’s problem behavior, and whether this relationship is mediated by parental negative discipline. Both mothers and fathers are studied. A sample of 166 parents participated, of which 59 fathers (Mean age = 35,15 years, SD = 5,08) and 107 mothers ... read more (Mean age = 32,67 years, SD = 4,41). It concerns parents of 74 girls and 64 boys (Mean age = 34,44 months, SD = 7,79). Results indicate that parents with a lower level of self-efficacy, report a higher level of toddler’s behavioral problems. Negative discipline does not mediate this relation. There is also found that negative discipline from mothers correlates with behavioral problems significantly, from fathers does not. However, the relationship from mothers between negative discipline and behavioral problems, does not longer exist when self-efficacy will be added. Thereby, mothers reported less self-efficacy than fathers did. Also, maternal self-efficacy has shown to be a more important predictor of toddler’s behavioral problems than from fathers. In conclusion, this study shows the differences between fathers and mothers in terms of self-efficacy, negative discipline and behavioral problems of toddlers. Implications for further research are discussed. show less